84 replies to this topic

[Sherbet]

How do I upload pics on here?

[Sherbet]

[Sherbet]

Finally figured out the photo upload...
That's a pic of Valli's BIBA helmet, plus one of her in the foreground wearing a winners wreath post race and in the background are pics of her & her husband (Emile Ford) when they were both young.
Let me know if you'd like more info & pics ☺

[Geoff E]

Emile Ford was originally Michael Emile Telford Miller.

 

Valerie P Stack married MET-M in 1978.  Did she race under her married name?

Edited by Geoff E, 10 May 2015 - 10:06.

[Sherbet]

No, she didn't race again after she married in Aug 78 coz the had her 1st child in Jul 79.

Edited by Sherbet, 10 May 2015 - 10:33.

[Sherbet]

[Sherbet]

[Sherbet]

[Sherbet]

[Alan Cox]

Well, well, I never knew that. Seems like a slightly unexpected pairing. Emile Ford was a successful singer and sound engineer, developing recording techniques, in the late 'fifties and into the 'sixties, principally with the Checkmates. I see that Valerie Stack was credited as producer of his 1976 LP 'On A Slow Boat To China', while she was still involved in racing.  

[ensign14]

So she did at least 3 seasons. What is slightly strange is that when she stopped suddenly, she was never heard of again in any context.

 

Logically, she should have raced for four...

[paulsenna1]

I hope she has fond memories of those times, I certainly do. She was a quick racer in her little black MG.

[Sherbet]

[Sherbet]

She definitely has fond memories of those times paulsenna1... She lived life to the full in her youth and is grateful for every amazing experience.

I don't know why 4 seasons would have been more logical ensign14 (I'm sorry to say that I don't know much about racing) but I do know that there was nothing logical about Valli's early career path coz she simply follows her heart so she started racing accidentally... She was a model hired to do promotional laps to kick off the season when she was with Chris Meek & he then encouraged her to try her hand at itbecause she took to it so naturally. A few years later when she got pregnant within 3 months of getting married, that signalled the end of her racing days.

I'm not sure of the year, but I believe that in her racing days Valli was asked to be the driver of the Bluebird in a bid to break the world land speed record (there are pics of her and the Bluebird around somewhere)... but in an ironic tragedy the designer of the Bluebird was killed in a car accident before the car was completed, so it never came to fruition.

[Sherbet]

Yes Alan Cox Valerie worked closely with Emile throughout their relationship. He is 15 years her senior but like a classic romantic cliche their eyes literally met across a crowded room when she had a modelling job in the same place Emile was performing & apparently a lot of the audience were even starting to turn around trying work out who Emile was singing to because he stopped engaging with the crowd and was singing to her over their heads 😀

[paulsenna1]

That's wonderful to hear how Valli met Emile. Did she continue her modelling career or then concentrate on music production?

[Doug Nye]

"...but in an ironic tragedy the designer of the Bluebird was killed in a car accident before the car was completed, so it never came to fruition."

 

 

 

DCN

[Sharman]

"...but in an ironic tragedy the designer of the Bluebird was killed in a car accident before the car was completed, so it never came to fruition."

 

 

 

DCN

 

 too many sherberts
 

Edited by Sharman, 10 May 2015 - 15:31.

[LotusElise]

She definitely has fond memories of those times paulsenna1... She lived life to the full in her youth and is grateful for every amazing experience.

I don't know why 4 seasons would have been more logical ensign14 (I'm sorry to say that I don't know much about racing) but I do know that there was nothing logical about Valli's early career path coz she simply follows her heart so she started racing accidentally... She was a model hired to do promotional laps to kick off the season when she was with Chris Meek & he then encouraged her to try her hand at itbecause she took to it so naturally. A few years later when she got pregnant within 3 months of getting married, that signalled the end of her racing days.

I'm not sure of the year, but I believe that in her racing days Valli was asked to be the driver of the Bluebird in a bid to break the world land speed record (there are pics of her and the Bluebird around somewhere)... but in an ironic tragedy the designer of the Bluebird was killed in a car accident before the car was completed, so it never came to fruition.

 

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons...

 

I'm also a bit confused by the Bluebird reference. Donald Campbell was long dead by the time Valli was racing. 

 

What is Valli up to these days? Does she still take an interest in motor racing, or attend any meetings?

[Tim Murray]

The Land Speed Record project Valli was involved with was Blue Star, not Bluebird, and the man behind it, Dave Gossling, was indeed killed in a car crash. David Purley was also linked to the project. The Blue Star mockup was the one which lived on top of Starkey's Bridge at Donington Park for a long time before being sold by Bonhams in 2012 for £250.

Edited by Tim Murray, 10 May 2015 - 22:04.

[ensign14]

Yes Alan Cox Valerie worked closely with Emile throughout their relationship. He is 15 years her senior but like a classic romantic cliche their eyes literally met across a crowded room when she had a modelling job in the same place Emile was performing & apparently a lot of the audience were even starting to turn around trying work out who Emile was singing to because he stopped engaging with the crowd and was singing to her over their heads

 

What did she want to make those eyes at him for?

[ianuk52]

Would love to know what she's up to theses days . I was responsible whilst working for Andy Dawson for building the Prod sport MG for her and also then we switched to a TR 7 , will have to dig out my old photos
She was very good and had some great races

[LotusElise]

Her son/daughter will be a bit older than me now. Judging by the pictures I've seen, she's probably still young enough to put on some overalls and jump in a car again.

[Alan Cox]

The Land Speed Record project Valli was involved with was Blue Star, not Bluebird, and the man behind it, Dave Gossling, was indeed killed in a car crash. David Purley was also linked to the project. The Blue Star mockup was the one which lived on top of Starkey's Bridge at Donington Park for a long time before being sold by Bonhams in 2012 for £250.

http://www.bonhams.c...s/20145/lot/78/

[LotusElise]

Would anyone be kind enough to repost any of the great pictures from this thread?

 

Valli is at last getting her own post on Speedqueens.

[Rob29]

Why can't I see any of the photos posted on this thread by 'sherbet'?

Edited by Rob29, 22 November 2015 - 11:20.

[LotusElise]

I can't either. He must have taken them down from wherever they were hosted.

[opplock]

The photos can still be seen on Imageshack. I managed to view them by highlighting the link, right click and Open Link (top item in menu). I'm using Windows 10 and Explorer.

[Vitesse2]

The photos can still be seen on Imageshack. I managed to view them by highlighting the link, right click and Open Link (top item in menu). I'm using Windows 10 and Explorer.

Simply clicking on the links works for me in Firefox on W10 - but I do have it set to automatically open links to other websites in a new tab, which not everybody does!

[Rob29]

The photos can still be seen on Imageshack. I managed to view them by highlighting the link, right click and Open Link (top item in menu). I'm using Windows 10 and Explorer.

Thanks opplock finally got that to work-nice photos of trophies anyway

[Sherbet]

Hi

Sorry for the late reply...

Haven't taken any pics off ImageShack & have just logged in & they are still there

Do you want them reposting on this feed?  Or is it too late now?

[Sebastian Tombs]

With the ongoing interest in Valli I'm sorry to report that Emile Ford died, aged 78, just over a month ago    RIP

 

ST

[Tim Murray]

Here's his obituary in the Guardian. Sincere condolences to Sherbet and all his other family and friends:

http://www.theguardi...e-ford-obituary

[Sherbet]

Thanks Tim x

[RTH]

Valli Stack was of course closely associated with  Chris Meek who sadly died  yesterday.